CONOR THOMAS' departure on loan to Liverpool FC sparked Gary Hoffman's departure from Coventry City - but the former vice-chairman says he should have left the club much earlier.

The teenage playmaker joined the Anfield giants on loan in January until the end of the season, causing Hoffman to walk out in protest over the move.

But Hoffman admits his relationship with Sisu had already reached breaking point before the controversial decision to loan out Thomas arrived.

Asked to expand on his reasons for leaving the board earlier this year, Hoffman said: “The specifics should remain confidential, but everyone knows that the catalyst was the loan of Conor Thomas to Liverpool.

It was grabbing at short-term money by off-loading someone with long-term potential – a recurring feature that I was worried about.

“In reality, I should have probably resigned at the beginning of last year like Mike Parton – another serious businessman – but I wanted to stay to help Ray Ranson and stabilise things.

“Everyone can guess that I did not have a great relationship with Sisu. That was because the board was often misled and given inaccurate information.

"Sisu only gave us month by month and week by week promises rather than a plan for the year or three years that would have enabled Ray and the management team to do their job.

“I was also concerned by the way in which people were being treated.

"There are lots of good people who were trying to do the right thing that have left the club.”